Clarke University Head Softball Coach Jaclyn Salzwedel announced today that Maiya Tallakson, of Redondo Beach, Calif., has signed a letter of intent to enroll at the university this fall and join the Crusaders' softball program.

Tallakson, an infielder/outfielder, comes to Clarke from Cerritos College, Norwalk, Calif., where she a member of the Falcons' softball progam the past two seasons. She was named the recipient of the 2011 Coaches Award and earned most improved and honorable mention all-conference honors in 2012.

Tallakson was a member of the Dean's Honor List every semester at Cerritos and was named the recipient of the 2011-12 Academic Excellence Award for Athletic Trainer's Aide.

A 2010 graduate of Redondo Union High School, Tallakson was a three-year softball letterwinner for the Seahawks. She earned the squad's Best Defense Award in 2007 and garnered the Rookie of the Year Award in 2008. Tallakson was a member of the 2008 AFA 16U national championship team.